System for high reliability power distribution within an electronics equipment cabinet

ABSTRACT

The power conversion system allows for multiple segregated and ground independent power sources to provide redundant power to modules within an electronics equipment cabinet with increased reliability and reduced sensitivity to common fault propagation. The power conversion system provides power conditioning modules having independent supply rails that supply power to each module within an electronics equipment cabinet. FET and diode solid-state control and driver logic enable each individual supply rail. Efficient power distribution is facilitated by primary and hot-backup operation of one or more power conditioning modules. Power conversion is facilitated by one or more input supply power feeds and one or more converter stages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of power conversionand power distribution. Specifically, the present invention is directedto an efficient system for power conversion and distribution in anelectronics equipment cabinet for avionics systems.

Electronics equipment cabinets convert and distribute internal powersupplied by an aircraft power source. Generally, power conversion anddistribution in electronics equipment cabinets is accomplished usingsingle rail supply designs. For example, the Boeing 787 powerdistribution system uses a single rail output. The single rail designfeeds power to load modules. Generally, the load modules are powerconverters.

The existing power conversion and distribution systems used in theBoeing 787 have significant safety and reliability issues. For example,multiple power supplies share load modules. Load module sharing leads toundesirable operational conditions such as reverse current flow. Today'shigh reliability applications require segregated, redundant power supplyinputs. These power supplies must support power requirements forinternal load modules without adding circuit complexity, power loss ordecreased reliability. Moreover, efficient power distribution withinmodem electronics equipment cabinets will require a system with hot-swapcapability, redundancy and fault tolerant design. Modern electronicsequipment cabinets are typically constructed from one or more powersupply converters and several electronics modules inner connected on aback plane.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a power conditioningmodule having a plurality of switched output power rails, wherein eachswitched output power rail comprises a first field effect transistordrive configured to receive an input, a diode connected in parallel withthe first field effect transistor drive and a second field effecttransistor drive, connected in series with the first field effecttransistor drive and the diode, whereby the second field effecttransistor is configured to deliver an output to a load.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a power conversionsystem, comprises a first power conditioning module providing an inputto a load and a second power conditioning module providing an input tothe load, wherein the load comprises a hot swap control unit operablycoupled to the first power conditioning input and the second powerconditioning input, whereby the hot swap control unit receives a singleinput and a power converter, configured to receive a single input fromthe hot swap control, having a plurality of outputs with varyingvoltages.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a power conversionsystem, comprises a first power conditioning module, configured toreceive an input from a input power backplane and provide a plurality ofoutputs to an output power backplane, a second power conditioningmodule, configured to receive an input from a input power backplane andprovide a plurality of outputs to a output power backplane and a thirdpower conditioning module configured to receive an input from a inputpower backplane and provide a plurality of outputs to a output powerbackplane, wherein a plurality of loads are operably coupled to theoutput power backplane, each load receiving one input from the outputpower backplane.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only,and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description, appendedclaims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in thedrawings, which are briefly described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a typical power distribution system in an electronicsequipment cabinet.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a power conversion system according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a switched output power rail according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a truth table for the operation of the switched output powerrail shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a power conversion system, having two powerconditioning modules, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a truth table for the normal operation of the power conversionsystem shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a truth table for all possible operational modes of the powerconversion system shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a load module configured for use with the powerconversion system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a power conversion system according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a detailed diagram of one power conditioning module present inthe power conversion system shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A shows a single fault power distribution system typically foundin an aircraft's electronics equipment cabinet. The purpose of thesystem is to convert power received from the aircraft system bus into auseable form. Typically, the aircraft power input may be 28 volts DC or270 volts AC.

A power converter 105 distributes low voltage power to electronicshoused within an electronics equipment cabinet. Generally, the totalamount of power distributed is 12 volts. As shown in FIG. 1A, the outputfrom a conventional power supply 110 and a backup power supply 130 aredistributed in parallel to multiple load modules (or “loads”) 115. Eachload module 115 receives two inputs from the output power backplane 120.Further, each load 115 contains control circuitry 125 that determineswhich input the load 115 draws power from. In this configuration, when aload module 115 faults on one of its two power inputs, the load module115 disrupts all power distribution from the power supply 110. Tocompensate for the disruption, all the load modules 115 must switch to asecond power input, effectively causing all power to be distributed froma backup power supply 130. A second troubling characteristic of thesystem show in FIG. 1A is that current detection at the power supply 110is aggregated. Aggregated current detection makes it difficult todetermine whether a specific load module 115 is drawing more power thannormal. Thus, aggregated current detection leads to a less efficient,less autonomous distribution system.

The power conversion system 100 shown in FIG. 1B is designed to solvethe above-mentioned problems. Specifically, the system 100 includes apower conditioning module (“PCM”) 135. The PCM 135 contains controlcircuitry (not shown) that allows the PCM 135 to individually controlthe output to the load 115. The PCM 135 includes of a plurality ofswitched output rails (not shown) arranged in tandem. The load module115 receives multiple common inputs that are presented as one input to ahot swap unit 140 and then on to the power converter 105. Currentfeedback is provided to the PCM 135 control circuitry so that there isindividual detection of the power demand for each load module 115.Moreover, since the system distributes current through multiplesegregated paths via the plurality of switched output power rails, I2Rpower losses are significantly reduced. Further, the plurality ofsegregated switched output power rails reduces/eliminates the likelihoodof a fault occurring at one load module propagating to disrupt serviceon any other load modules. It will be noted that the distribution of apower rail between redundant sources may be inner-connected in the backplane, as shown in FIG. 1B, or at/within the power converter module, orany other effective location that will allow the present invention to bepracticed. The system shown in FIG. 1B and its advantages will now bedescribed in further detail below.

FIG. 2 shows a dual FET (Field Effect Transistor) switched output powerrail 200 whereby a first FET drive (“Q1”) 205 and a diode (“D1”) 210operate as a first stage and a second FET drive (“Q2”) 215 provides theoutput drive as the second stage. The arrangement shown in FIG. 2provides for supply “off” control as well as reverse current protection.As will be discussed later, the layout shown in FIG. 2 also facilitateshot backup supply operation. As indicated in FIG. 2, a PCM 135 maycontain several individual switched output power rails 200. A number ofswitched output power rails 200 may provide an individual supply inputfor each load 115 and accommodate common or spare channel drives for thepurposes of expansion. According to one embodiment of the invention, atleast fourteen switched output power rails 200 are implemented per PCM135. Other numbers of power rails may be utilized per PCM whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. It is noted thatthe term “FET” includes both traditional FETs and other FETs, such asMOSFETS, etc., and any other transistors that have similarcharacteristics to a FET.

The switched output power rail of FIG. 2 will now be described indetail. In FIG. 2, an aircraft power supply (not shown) feeds into aDC-DC converter 220. The DC-DC converter 220 provides an input voltageto FET Q1 205. FET Q1 205 is in parallel with a diode D1 210. Onepurpose of diode D1 210 is to provide reverse power protection to theswitched output power rail 200. Reverse power protection allows multiplesupplies operating with roughly the same output voltage characteristicsto be hard connected together at the load side.

FET Q1 205 receives input from a power supply controller (“PScontroller”) 225. FET Q1 205 and the diode 210 are in series with FET Q2215. FET Q2 215 also receives an input from the PS controller 225. Ashunt resistor 230 is placed in series with FET Q2 215. The shuntresistor 230 is used primarily to implement a feedback mechanism. Anisolation amplifier 235 receives as input a feed across the shuntresistor 230. The PS controller 225 accepts a feed from the isolationamplifier 235 as input to monitor the current. As shown in FIG. 1, thePS controller 225 accepts a second feed, V Mon, to monitor the voltage.Thus, feedback is provided to the PS Controller 225 concerning the load(power) values and the voltage output of the switched output power rail200. Finally, as shown in FIG. 2, the output of the switched outputpower rail 200 (“V-out”) provides the output power to a load 115 (notshown, but see FIG. 1).

The operation of the switched output power rail 200 will now beexplained with reference to the truth table shown in FIG. 3. When bothFET Q1 205 and FET Q2 215 are set to an “Off” state by the PS controller225, the switched output power rail 200 does not supply any outputvoltage or current (case 305). As shown for case 320, when FET Q1 205 isset to an “On” state and FET Q2 215 is set to an “On” state by the PScontroller 225, current does not flow through the diode D1 210 and anefficient voltage is supplied to the load 115. According to oneembodiment of the invention, when the DC-DC converter 220 provides a 12Voutput, V-out is equal to 12 V.

When FET Q1 205 is set to Off and FET Q2 215 is set to On by the PScontroller 225, current flows through the diode D1 210 and the secondFET Q2 215 (case 310). Here, the switched output power rail 200 isoperating in hot-standby supply mode. In this instance, the diode D1 210provides reverse current protection. In addition, the diode D1 210causes a smaller voltage to be supplied at V-Out than in the case whenboth FET Q1 205 and FET Q2 215 are set to on. According to oneembodiment of the invention, when the DC-DC converter 220 provides 12Vand FET Q1 205 is Off and FET Q2 215 is On, V-Out equals 11.3 V.Finally, when FET Q1 205 is set to On and FET Q2 215 is set to Off bythe PS controller 225 no supply voltage or current is supplied to V-out.According to one embodiment of the invention, to prevent the needlessactivation of FET Q1 205 when FET Q2 215 is set to Off, the PScontroller implements logic to insure FET Q1 205 is deactivated when FETQ2 215 is inactive.

FIG. 4 shows a power conversion system 100 having two PCMs 135. As shownin FIG. 4, a PCM 135 is comprised of a set of switched output powerrails 200. Further, a PCM 135 can be arranged with other PCMs 135 tocreate the power conversion system 100 shown in FIG. 4. The powerconversion system 100 may include of one or more PCMs 135. Here, thepower conversion system 100 shown in FIG. 4 is limited to two PCMs 135for simplicity and explanation purposes only.

PCM A 405 and PCM B 410 are identical to the PCM 135 shown in FIG. 2.According to one embodiment of the invention, supply output provided tothe input stage of the FETs QIA 415, Q2A 420, QIB 425 and Q2B 430 ismaintained within 0.5 volts. As shown in FIG. 3, PCM A 405 and PCM B 410provide voltage output to a load module 115, here designated as “Slot AModule Load.” The load 115 contains a hot swap unit 140 and a powerconverter 105.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the load 115 operates at a65 W maximum. The outputs of both PCM A 405 and PCM B 410 feed into thehot swap unit 140. In turn, the output from the hot swap unit 140 feedsinto the power converter 105. Voltage and built-in-test (“BIT”)monitoring provide for fault detection and control feedback to insureproper operation. According to one embodiment of the invention, thepower converter 105 is a DC/DC converter that provides outputs at 5,3.3, 1.8, 1.2 and 1.1 volts.

The truth table shown in FIG. 5 lists the normal operational parametersof the system shown in FIG. 4. When FET QIA 415 and FET Q2A 420 in PCM A405 and FET Q1B 425 and FET Q2B 430 in PCM B 410 are set to Off, V-outequals zero (case 505). No supply output voltage or current is suppliedto the load 115. Thus, the load 115 is powered Off. As shown in case510, if FET QIB 425 and FET Q2B 430 are set to Off, and FET QIA 415 andFET Q2A 420 are both set to On, then an efficient voltage is supplied toV-out and the load 115 is turned on. According to one embodiment of theinvention, 12V is supplied to the load 115. In this case, PCM A 405provides efficient output supply to the load 115 by bypassing the diodeDIA 435. Here, either PCM B 410 is not providing backup power or is notpresent on the system. As seen in FIG. 5, when FET QIA 415 and FET Q2A420 are set to Off and FET QIB 425 and FET Q2B 430 are set to On, thereverse case occurs. V-out is supplied an efficient supply of power fromPCM B 410 and the load 115 is powered on. The Off state of both FET QIA415 and FET Q2A 420 indicate that PCM A 405 is not set to provide backuppower or is not present.

In case 520, FET QIA 415 is set to Off and FET Q2A 420 is set to on.Adequate power is supplied to V-out and the load 115 is powered on. Asdescribed above, when FET Q2A 420 is On and FET Q1A 415 is Off, currentflows through the diode DIA 435. This results in lower power supplyefficiency. According to one embodiment of the present invention, avoltage of 11.3V is provided. Here, FET QIB 425 and FET Q2B 430 are setto Off. Accordingly, PCM B 410 does not provide any power to the load115. Similarly, when only FET Q2B 425 is set to On (Case 525), PCM B 410exhibits the same behavior as PCM A 405 described above.

The final two cases (530, 535) shown in FIG. 5 demonstrate the optimalbackup power operation of the power conversion system 100. When FET QIB425 is the only FET set to Off (case 530), an efficient power supply issupplied by PCM A 405. According to one embodiment of the invention, PCMA 405 provides 12 V of power. PCM B 410 provides an inefficient powersupply and operates as a standby power source. According to oneembodiment of the invention, PCM B 410 provides 11.3 V. In the case ofremoval of either supply, all loads are placed on the remaining supplywithout a glitch in the supply of power. Similarly, when FET QIA 425 isthe only FET set to Off (case 535), similar behavior is exhibited by thesystem. Here, an efficient power supply is provided by PCM B 410 and PCMA 405 operates in standby mode providing an inefficient supply voltage.It should be noted that in general, the PCM 135 operating as the primarysupply also monitors current output and any occurrence of reversecurrent. If reverse current is detected FET Q1 205 shuts off, enablingdiode D1 210 and thereby providing for reverse current protection.

According to one embodiment of the invention, approximately half of theloads 115 in a power conversion system are supplied as primary loads byPCM A 405. PCM B 410 provides hot backup to the PCM A 405 primary loads.Accordingly, half of the loads 115 in the system are supplied as primaryloads by PCM B 410 while PCM A 405 provides hot backup for those loads.

One important feature of the system in FIG. 4 is that turning off a load115 requires that both supplies have FET Q2 215 set to Off. According toone embodiment of the invention, the PS controller 225 for each PCM 135executes logic such that when FET Q2 215 is set to Off, FET Q1 205 isset to Off. According to another embodiment of the invention, PCM A 405and PCM B 410 transmit a valid signal to each other (“PS Valid”). The PSValid signal allows for PCM A 405 and PCM B 410 to automatically switchfrom back up to primary mode if a fault occurs.

Further, each PS controller 225 implements certain logic operations inthe system illustrated in FIG. 4. Primarily the logic will operate toprevent the case where FET Q1A 415, FET Q2A 420, FET QIB 425 and FET Q2B430 are all set to on. According to one embodiment of the invention, FETQ1 205 is not set to On unless its PCM 135 operates as a primary load.Further, if PCM A 405 is set for primary operation but FET Q1A 415 andFET Q2 A 420 are Off, the load voltage is checked. According to oneembodiment of the invention, if the load voltage is less than 11.5 Vthen FET Q1A 415 and FET Q2A 420 are switched on. In another embodimentof the invention, the voltage on a load 115 is monitored over a periodof time “n.” If the load voltage indicates that it is receiving powerfrom a secondary supply voltage then a secondary supply, PCM B 410 forexample, will switch FET Q1B 425 On and operate as a primary supply.

Further applications of the PS Valid signal will now be described.According to another embodiment of the invention, a PS Valid signal isprovided from one PCM 135 to the other. For example, if PCM A 405 isremoved, PCM B 410 will receive a signal indicating PCM A's 405 removal.PCM B 410 will then switch from secondary supply mode where FET QIB 425is Off and FET Q2B 430 is on, to primary supply mode where both FET QIB425 and FET Q2B 430 are set to on. Then, if PCM A 405 is engaged again,a PS Valid signal will indicate this to PCM B 410. Accordingly, PCM B410 will switch to a secondary hot-backup mode and PCM A 405 will entera primary supply mode. Thus, the efficient use of PS Valid in thecontrol logic results in non-glitch operation from the loads 115perspective.

FIG. 6 shows a truth table that further illustrates all possibleoperational modes for the dual PCM system 100 shown in FIG. 4. In thecases where FET Q2A 420 and FET Q2B 430 are set to Off (cases 505, 535,615, 625), no voltage is supplied by either PCM 405, 410. The defaultpower-on case 605 occurs when FET QIA 415 and FET Q1B 425 are set to Onand FET Q2A 420 and FET Q2B 420 are set to Off. Here, both PCMs providelow efficiency power. From this case either PCM 405, 410 can be enabledto provide full efficiency power by switching FET QIA 415 or FET QIB 425on. According to one embodiment of the invention, during the powering onof the system 100 both PCMs 405, 410 are brought online to provide powerat 11.3V.

As shown in FIG. 6, four cases can occur (610,620,630,640) where a PCMhas FET QIA 415 or FET QIB 425 set to On and FET Q2A 420 or FET Q2B 430are set to Off. As described above, in each of these cases no voltage isbeing supplied by the PCM 405,410. In addition, because the FET Q1 205is switched on, the diode D1 210 is bypassed and cannot implementreverse current protection for the switched output supply rail 200.Therefore, the PS controller 225 implements logic to eliminate thesecases from occurring during actual operation. According to oneembodiment of the invention, when FET Q2A 420 is set to Off, FET Q1A 415is also set to Off. Further, when FET Q2B 430 is set to Off, FET Q1B 425is set to Off.

FIG. 7 is a detailed diagram of a load module 115 configured for usewith the power conversion system 100 described above. Here, PCM A 405provides input A and PCM B 415 B provides input B. As shown in FIG. 7,the load module 115 receives one input from the output power back plane120. The input is in series with a resistor 705 used for short circuitdetection and a transistor 710 that is controlled by a hot swapcontroller 140. The transistor 710 feeds to a power converter 105.According to one embodiment of the invention, the power converter 105provides 3.3 V. A voltage monitor 715 is connected to V-out to monitorthe output voltage.

FIG. 8 illustrates a power conversion system 100 according to oneembodiment of the invention. The input power backplane 805 includes aground 810, a first aircraft power supply 815, a first aircraft return820, a battery power input 825, a battery return 830, a second aircraftpower supply 835 and a second aircraft return 840. According to oneembodiment of the invention, the first 815 and second 835 aircraftinputs are 28 V DC and the battery input 825 is 24 V DC.

As shown in FIG. 8, three PCMs 135 are provided. The first aircraftinput 815 feeds into PCM A's 850 supply input. The ground of PCM A 850is connected to the first aircraft return 820. Similarly, the secondaircraft power supply 835 feeds into PCM C's 860 supply input and thesecond aircraft return 840 is connected to the PCM C's 860 ground.Further, the battery power supply 825 is connected to the power supplyinput for PCM B 855. The battery return 830 is connected to the groundoutput of the PCM B 855.

As shown in FIG. 8, each PCM 850, 855, 860 has a voltage output thatfeeds into a fan and valve unit 865. Similarly, each PCM 850, 855,860 isconnected to the load ground (“LGND”) backplane 870. The fan and valveunit 865 is also connected to the LGND 870. The purpose of the fan andvalve unit 865 is to provide thermal cooling in the cabinet so that thepower conversion system 100 will not overheat.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, each PCM 850, 855, 860 possesses multipleoutputs that serve as inputs to a plurality of load modules 115.According to one embodiment of the invention, each PCM 850, 855, 860shown in FIG. 7 provides fifteen 12 V DC outputs to fourteen loads 115.According to one embodiment of the invention, the fifteenth output maybe allocated for expansion of the system. Each of the fourteen loads 115has one input and is connected to the back plane LGND 870. Each PCM 850,855, 860 is capable of supplying power to each load 115.

Under normal operating conditions, for example, PCM A 850 suppliesprimary power to loads 1-7 and provides backup power for loads 8-14.

Accordingly, PCM C 860 supplies primary power to loads 8-14 and backuppower to loads 1-7. The PCM B 855 module powered by the battery 830 isset to Off. If one of the operational PCMs 850, 860 malfunctions, thenPCM B 860 receives a signal indicating that it should come online to andassume the function of the malfunctioning PCM 850, 860. Prior to the PCMB 855 coming online, the sole operational PCM 850, 860 supplies power toall fourteen loads 115.

FIG. 9 shows a detailed view of a PCM 135 used to implement the systemshown in FIG. 8. Each individual switched out power rail 200 and itscorresponding output is shown. According to one embodiment of theinvention, fifteen switched out power rails 200 are used to providefifteen outputs. As shown in FIG. 9, each PS controller 225 of eachindividual switched out power rail 200 is connected to another PScontroller 225 of another switched out power rail 200. According to oneembodiment of the invention and as shown in FIG. 9, the switched outputpower rails 200 are connected via their PS controllers 225 in clustersof three or four switched output power rails 200. Each cluster of threeor four PS controllers 225 is then operably connected to a digitalcontrol and fault monitor 905 via a serial communication interface, suchas, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, an I²C(Phillips Semiconductor Trademark) bus 910.

In addition, each digital control and fault monitor 905 is operablyconnected to a micro controller 915 and timing unit 920 via the I²C bus910. The micro controller 915 and timing unit 920 are integrated into alarger control unit. The control unit includes an isolated LDO supply925, a timing unit 920 with read only memory and a micro controller 915.In addition, the micro controller 915 is provided a RS232 port (notshown) for debugging. The micro controller 915 also receives input froman interlock controller 930. The interlock controller 930 is operablyconnected to a management data input/output feed and a system managementBus (SMBus). Finally, as shown in FIG. 9, a switched output power rail200 for the fan and valve unit 865 is used. The switched out power rail200 receives power from a dedicated fan power input. Additional inputsto the PS controller 225 are provided from valve signals and themicrocontroller 915. In turn, the switched output power rail 200provides the fan and valve system 865 with power.

The power conditioning modules and power conversion system of thepresent invention have several advantages. First, the system, accordingto at least one embodiment, decreases I2R power loss by segregating thedistribution of current. In addition, the system, according to at leastone embodiment, offers fail safe operation by providing a transient-freehot-backup secondary supply, ground independent isolation andbuilt-in-test monitoring and feedback. Further, the power conditioningmodules, according to at least one embodiment, are configured toimplement reverse current protection, voltage and current monitoring andfeedback control. In addition, the system of the present inventionsupports the use of multiple converter supply topologies. Moreover, thepower conversion and distribution system, according to at least oneembodiment, eliminates or greatly reduces common mode fault issuesassociated with singe rail supply designs.

The design topology of the system improves reliability in several waysas faults are isolated, power dissipation is spread among multiple,lower loss components, and failures are determined with greaterreliability. Performance is improved, power efficiency is improved, andlife cycle costs are decreased with the increased reliability. Powersupply converter efficiency allows for reduced volume packaging therebydecreasing weight, size and associated system costs. Further, the designof the system maintains a simple use of existing required components andrepartitions (re-applies) them to provide substantial architecturalreliability, fault management and performance gains.

The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teaching or may be acquired from practice of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principlesof the invention and as a practical application to enable one skilled inthe art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodification are suited to the particular use contemplated. It isintended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claimsappended hereto and their equivalents.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal languages of the claims.

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A power conversion system, comprising: a first powerconditioning module, configured to receive input power and provide aplurality of outputs to an output power backplane; a second powerconditioning module configured to receive input power and provide aplurality of outputs to the output power backplane; wherein a pluralityof loads are operably coupled to the output power backplane, each loadreceiving input from the output power backplane.
 6. The power conversionsystem of claim 5, wherein the first power conversion module receives a28 V DC input form an aircraft power source.
 7. The power conversionsystem of claim 5, wherein the second power conversion module receives a24 V DC input from a battery.
 8. The power conversion system of claim 5,wherein the third power conversion module receives a 28 V DC input fromthe aircraft power source.
 9. The power conversion system of claim 5,wherein each of the plurality of outputs of the first power conversionmodule, the second power conversion module and the third powerconversion module are provided as 12 V DC outputs.
 10. The powerconversion system of claim 5, further comprising a fan and valve unitfor cooling the power conversion system wherein the fan and valve unitis configured to receive an input from any of the first, second or thirdpower conversion module.
 11. A power conditioning module, comprising: aplurality of switched output power rails arranged in clusters, eachswitched output power rail having an output and configured to receiveinput power; a plurality of digital control and fault monitors operablycoupled to each of the plurality of switched output power rails andoperably coupled to a control bus; a control unit operably coupled tothe control bus, wherein the control unit includes a logic incommunication with a debugging port, a time keeper unit and an isolatedregulator; and an interlock controller in communication with the controlbus and operably coupled to a system bus.
 12. A power conversion system,comprising: a first power conditioning module according to claim 11providing a first input to a load; a second power conditioning moduleaccording to claim 11 providing a second input to the load; and whereinthe load comprises: a hot swap control unit operably coupled to thefirst power conditioning input and the second power conditioning input,wherein the hot swap control unit receives a single input, and aconverter, configured to receive an input from the hot swap controlunit, the converter having a plurality of outputs with varying voltages.13-15. (canceled)
 16. A power conversion system, comprising: a firstload; a second load; and a first power conditioning module, wherein thefirst power conditioning module provides a first output to the firstload and a second output to the second load, wherein the first powerconditioning module is adapted to isolate a first fault in the firstload so that the fault will not diminish a performance of the secondload.
 17. The power conversion system of claim 16, wherein the firstpower conditioning module is adapted to identify a location of faultwith respect to load. 18-19. (canceled)
 20. The power conditioningmodule of claim 5, further comprising a third power conditioning moduleconfigured to receive input power and provide a plurality of outputs tothe output power backplane.
 21. (canceled)